It is the best kind of union - and the best kind of reunion! Meet longtime friends (since 1992!) and fellow food aficionados Tom Furney and Ismael Loeza - reunited and together again at their restaurant Mesa Café, a sunny café whose menu combines wholesome all-American food with the flavors and recipes of Mexican cuisine. Collectively, Tom and Ismael have been in the food industry for over 70 years; Tom for 41 years, including his most recent 10 year tenure as Executive Chef at the Amos House in Providence, and Ismael with 30-plus years, many of which were spent in his native Mexico. After what has been essentially a lifetime in the business, these men know good food - and each have brought to Mesa Café their own unique culinary style and sensibility.

When Tom and Ismael were developing their menu, both wanted to take real comfort foods - the kind of food that satisfies your soul and your appetite - and put their own signature touch on them. For breakfast, try their flavor-packed "Breakfast Burrito", a 12" tortilla filled with refried beans, cheddar cheese, scrambled eggs, and a heap of salsa ranchera. How about one of their ever popular "Mesa's Crepes", a tasty stack of four thin Persian-style crepes, stuffed with sweet fruit? Or choose from a huge selection of made-to-order specialty omelettes, combination egg/pancake/French toast plates and "morning delights" such as muffins, buns, oatmeal and assorted breakfast meats.

Mesa Café has an equally enticing list of offerings for lunch as well. Start your meal with a heaping pile of Mexican nachos or potato skins with bacon, and then make room for some of Ismael's prized selections. People will line up for the Chicken Enchiladas, an all white meat stuffed corn tortilla served with either red or green salsa and piled with Mexican cheese, sour cream and pico de gallo and for the Tacos al Pastor - marinated tips of pork combined with onions, sweet pineapple and cilantro over a soft tortilla. The Quesadillas and crispy Chicken or Steak Tacos and Tostados will have you begging for more . . .

And there is plenty more delicious-ness to come because Tom is in the kitchen whipping up some comfort foods of his own - homemade soups, hot and cold sandwiches, garden fresh salads, good old-fashioned burgers and hot dogs, even chicken pot pies. Combine any of these with some of the Mexican food and you have a culinary feast! Mesa Café also offers many options for their vegetarian diners, as well as daily specials. Nobody ever leaves Mesa Café hungry.

Mesa Café is located at 100 Rolfe Street in Cranston. Open Mon-Sat. 6:00am to 2:00pm and Sunday, 7:00am to 2:00pm. A spacious banquet room is also available to host your next family gathering! Call 781-0980 for more information. All credit cards accepted.